“Awarded for excellence in Storytelling” – Interview with Shilpa Mehta, Story Rack – Part 1

Shilpa Mehta, Story Rack has numerous accolades to her credit –

• Hindi Saahitya Gaurav Samaan, 2026 by Saahitya Arpan Society, Dubai
• Women Achiever’s Award by Rajasthan Chambers of Commerce and Industries-Young Women Entrepreneurs,2025
• Women Inspiring Award by NHZ in Jaipur,2025
• Inspirational Women Clan Award, for inspirational Storyteller,2024
• Featured by WeWomen, on Women’s Day,2024
• Honoured by Vishisht lifestyle on International Women’s Day 202
• Top Mompreneur Clan E-AWARD 2023 by THEMOMMACLAN.
• Women Achiever’s Award for performance Storytelling in Jaipur, 2023
• Influence Star Award by Karyashala Foundation

Could you speak about your career journey?

I was into the educational space for two decades. I started my career teaching MBA and BBA students with stories. I had incorporated stories into my lectures then. Now there is talk of storytelling as a part of the pedagogy. But I was doing this in 1997. I have taught economics, project management and entrepreneurship through stories. Even case studies and these subjects were taught by me with stories to the students. Then I wrote academic books for primary school going children. Then Covid happened and it was a time for me to pause and reflect. I participated in an online storytelling event. I shared a personal story and got a lot of appreciation for that. That day I realised what I wanted to do storytelling. I had been a radio artist who acted in many radio plays from the 5^th standard to the 12^th standard. I had done this while I was in school for Vividh Bharati. Due to this background online storytelling seemed to be the natural thing to do. It was after this that I started practicing storytelling both online and in workshops.  I also after this time started writing and my writing got selected in various anthologies. I write in both Hindi and English. Covid was the beginning of my journey as a storyteller and as a writer.

Could you talk about your experiences at various festivals?

I have performed at various platforms both online and offline. The performances at various festivals have been exhilarating. Through these festivals I have been exposed to different storytelling traditions. It has expanded my understanding of narratives. It is also a way of finding your tribe. You share ideas. Each and every minute at festivals has been a learning experience. It connects you to the world of storytellers who share your stories. They give you their time and help you focus on your craft. It is about being part of a diverse and vibrant community. We know each other for so long.

Could you talk your experiences as a radio artist in Vividh Bharati and how this shaped your career as a storyteller?

At that point of time, it was more of a happiness. Why it was more of happiness was that I would get a check at the end of each session. I was happy was I earning. It helped me storytell. As a child artist I would get to interact with stalwarts. I have worked with Rajeev Varma. I am from Bhopal and I got to do many plays with him. He offered me a role in his theatrical play. It helped me to learn voice modulation, gesture, expression, though much of this was not visible on radio. I learnt that working with expressions and gestures was the best way to perform even through this was not visible on radio. I learnt all these things and soon it became a part of my system. It helped me when I did storytelling as all this was ingrained in my system. We would record the play after 3 days of rehearsals. I learnt to perform, developed a love for voices and learnt the basic nuances. I was well equipped when I came into storytelling due to this experience.

Could you talk about your engagement with narratives?

I had a wonderful childhood filled with books, stories and an insatiable curiosity. I was introduced to the wonderful world of oral storytelling by my father. I still remember all the stories – kings, queens, stories from mythology and the folktales. These stories were not just stories they gave great opportunities which I could not have imagined.